Mark Otieno entered the 2024 season hoping to make the Kenyan Olympic team but unfortunately failed to achieve his goal.
At the Kenyan Olympic trials, Otieno managed a second-place finish behind Ferdinand Omanyala, clocking 10.12 to cross the finish line. Omanyala clocked 9.79 seconds for the win.
Speaking to Pulse Sports Kenya in an exclusive interview, the Kenyan sprint sensation noted that he felt a bit of regret after missing out on the Paris Olympics, having worked hard in training to achieve the feat.
At some point, he questioned why he narrowly missed the Games but made peace with that knowing that there was a chance at next year’s World Championships in Tokyo, Japan. Hopefully, he will make the cut to the Kenyan team and make his World Championships debut.
Follow the Pulse Sports Kenya X handle for more updates.
“Honestly, I felt a bit of some regret after missing the Olympics because I had prepared well for the trials and I was sure of something good. For some time, I was a bit down and questioned why it had to happen that way but I know God had a reason,” Otieno said.
“I now shift my focus to the World Championships and hopefully, I will get a chance to represent my country. I believe in my abilities and myself and I know I can make it,” he added.
After missing the Olympic slot, Otieno competed at the Africa Athletics Championships, finishing fifth in the men’s 100m semifinal and missing a slot in the final before competing in the men’s 4x100m relay team that finished fifth in the final.
He then raced at the International Wiesław Maniak Memorial and finished third, clocking 10.60 seconds to cross the finish line.
Meanwhile, the 31-year-old had tested positive for the anabolic steroid methasterone during the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics in July and was excluded as he prepared to compete in the 100m heats. He was suspended for two years.
